Coach: Dave Vodika, first year
Last season: 1-9, 0-7 Midland Athletic League
Returning letter winners: 15
Returning starters: Offense 7, defense 5
Schemes: I-Formation/5-2
Top players: Seniors Kody Brewer, 6-0, 170, QB; Brandon Carver, 6-5, 280, OL/DL; Ed Racheter 6-1, 215, RB; Tiger Jaso, 5-11, 170, RB/DB. Juniors Jordan Smith, 6-0, 200, C; Mac Flanagan 6-5, 270, OL/DL.
Outlook: Vodika, who was promoted from offensive coordinator when Jim Kelly left for Fostoria, takes over a team with the girth needed to run his power offense.
Flanagan and Carver anchor a line that returns four starters and will try to clear running lanes for Racheter and Jaso.
Brewer completed 31 of 87 passes for 528 yards and four touchdowns.
Vodika, 61, who played in college at Cincinnati, moved to the area five years ago to be near his adult children. His coaching career has taken him to, among other places, Canton McKinley, and his alma mater Orrville. In his only previous head coaching stop, he was 11-9 in two seasons at Norwayne.
"I told the kids I didn't come here to lose, I came here to win," Vodika said. "It's going to take a little bit of time, but we're making strides. We need to establish ourselves, we need to believe in ourselves, and we need to be consistent in all the things we do."
2012 LAKOTA SCHEDULE
Aug. 24-at Arcadia
Aug. 31-Gibsonburg
Sept. 7-at Cardinal Stritch
Sept. 14-Tiffin Calvert
Sept. 21-at Hopewell-Loudon
Sept. 28-Fremont St. Joseph
Oct. 5-at Carey
Oct. 12-Mohawk
Oct. 19-Seneca East
Oct. 26-at North Baltimore